Engine Deaths
 

What are different ways that a rotary engine can die?

hehe, i can't wait to hear all the replies this one gets.
- water seal O-rings
- not changing oil enough (i can't be more descriptive, sorry. i go for 3K miles on my n/a)
- . . . stock engine, i don't really know. usually what comes to mind is the 2 i listed, unless you're talking heavily modified. also, n/a or turbo? n/a takes 87 octane all day long, turbo may get pissy.

casio

apex seals

There is ONLY one way a rotary dies (excluding dying from old age, lol).....the owner screwed up somewhere (maintenance, ran it too hard, etc.). :D

My 1st engine ran 240k miles, 2nd was still running strong at 130k miles until I downed it for a T2 conversion ;)

Well, what way does it die from old age? like what part for the engine breaks down?

Apex seals or the Oil Control Rings

How do you know if you have a bad engine?
 

Hi all im thinking about getting a 3rd gen but i know that that rotary is notorious for breaking down due to the owner's laziness to change the oil......ok ive tracked some down, but watch should i look for or feel to know that the motor is still good, or that it is blown. also doesn anyone know any good shops and how much it costs to replace the motor? I live in the bay area, ca. thx alot!

1) oil injection fails, f'ing rotor housing
2) detonation causing rotor faces to collapse
3) detonation casuing rotor apex seals to let go
4) over reving, edge of rotors dig in on side housings, and twist stationary gear teeth, not enough oil gets to main bearings--chatter marks on eccentric shaft.
5) water jacket o ring grooves on side housing deteriorate, letting water into chambers... hard starting, steam in exhaust... this one happened to me.. i think its caused by not changing the coolant enough. I ended up rebuilding my engine with a new front side housing. The engine ran for 600 miles or so, this it started making a loud rattling noise coming from inside the engine. Im thinking it was caused by me not checking the eccentric shaft endplay. doh!